AC Milan coach Stefano Pioli welcomed club owner Gerry Cardinale into the home dressing room before yesterday's clash with Roma.

Cardinale was there to gee-up the players and also congratulate Christian Pulisic after he was named Serie A Player of the Month before kickoff.

He wanted to meet with coach Stefano Pioli, the staff, and the players. Cardinale spent some valuable minutes in the locker room, expressing his full support and close proximity to the coach and the entire team. He conveyed to them that, despite not always being physically present in Milan, he is constantly updated and personally involved in all Milan's activities. Cardinale also emphasised his constant availability, insisting on the ownership's total commitment to supporting the club.

And the decision proved a success, with Cardinale's presence seeing Milan win comfortably on Sunday 3-1 against the Giallorossi. Yacine Adli struck first, with Olivier Giroud also scoring before Theo Hernandez settled the result in the second-half.

Afterwards, Milan coach Stefano Pioli said: “Cardinale motivated us before the match in the locker room, said that the owners are by our side and will try to support our ambition, but above all with intelligent investment.

"I couldn't talk about the budget for January, as I don't know what it is."